WIRED25 is coming back! Following the enormous success of last year’s celebration, WIRED returns to San Francisco this fall with four more days of inspiring events featuring the ideas, innovations and icons working to build a better future. Join us.

Rick Ross isn’t even a week removed from the release of his latest LP Port of Miami 2 and though it’s an exceptional piece of work more people are speaking his name due to what Nicki Minaj had to say about The Bawse on Joe Budden’s podcast.
Still Ross remains unbothered by petty things and swung through The Breakfast Club where he addressed the situation while keeping things diplomatic and positive. Aside from touching on past and current beefs, Ross also confirmed some interesting things about his street life before the music and why Pusha T’s verse didn’t make the much talked about “Maybach Music VI.”

Here are the 8 things we learned from Rick Ross on The Breakfast Club.

‘Stranger Things’ stars Finn Wolfhard and Caleb McLaughlin show us the last things they did with their phones. What was the last emoji they used? The last text message sent? What was the last thing they searched?WIRED Videos

If you’ve ever seen the show Stranger Things, you’ve probably noticed a movie reference or two. Series creators Ross and Matt Duffer are huge film buffs, and they’ve used every opportunity they can to reference some of their favorite movies in Stranger Things. Here is their definitive list of (almost) every movie reference in Stranger Things.

Stranger Things season 3 is streaming now on Netflix.
https://www.netflix.com/watch/80186941?trackId=254015180WIRED Videos

All signs point toward a rough week for Tiger Woods. But what about Rory McIlroy on home soil, Brooks Koepka making another major run and the other pressing major questions at Royal Portrush?www.espn.com – TOP

Freddie Gibb’s been on his grizzly for a hot minute and though he’s often overlooked in favor of commercial rappers and flavor of the month artists, his recently released project Bandana has been garnering him praise as his best piece of work to date.
Riding high on the release of his latest album, the Hip-Hop veteran sat down for a quick interview with your favorite Hip-Hop morning show and had no qualms about getting into a bevy of subjects and turned as entertaining an interview as you’ll hear today.

From explaining how he got locked up in Austria because of a dream a white woman had about him to opening up about his desire to sign with 50 Cent, Gangsta Gibbs is answers all questions thrown at him with no hairs on his tongue.

Here are the 6 things we learned from Freddie Gibbs on The Breakfast Club.

Freddie Gibb’s says when he said “f*ck Spike” Lee for his depiction of Malcolm X on “Flat Tummy Tea” he says was joking. “I like Spike Lee.” He does say some Muslims he knows do have issues with Spike Lee’s classic biopic film.

It’s 1985, and the only thing Hawkins, Indiana, has more of than bizarre supernatural/pseudo-scientific phenomena is a plethora of pop culture touchstones. One can be a major “Stranger Things” fan and either be too young to have any memories of the over-the-top decade in which Season 3 is set, or emerged from the Reagan Era with too-fuzzy recall, perhaps owing to when you didn’t “Just Say No.”

More puberty, more problems is the rough mantra for the new season of “Stranger Things,” which builds upon the story so far without bending the mold in the mix of ’80s nostalgia and more movie/TV references than you can shake a library of Stephen King books at.

The 1980’s nostalgia and sci-fi show Stranger Things returns for season three with a new setting: The Starcourt Mall. WIRED’s Emily Dreyfuss talks with architecture professor Ellen Dunham-Jones about mall culture and the fate of dead malls. Hint, zombies.WIRED Videos

The guy who was suing the Duffer Bros. for allegedly stealing the idea for “Stranger Things” from him is doing a complete 180 and yanking his lawsuit … right before their trial was set to begin. Charles Kessler reportedly withdrew his suit…

New York-artist Andres Serrano has long garnered attention with his works on feces and urine. Now he’s taking on the ubiquity of the 45th President, Donald Trump, with his exhibit, ‘The Game: All Things Trump.’ No Reporter Narration. (Rough Cut. )

Sexy Andy Garcia heads an outstanding all-star cast in this riveting and highly original thriller! When a powerful mob boss (Christopher Walken) gives ex-gangster Jimmy the Saint (Garcia) one last job, it's an offer he can't refuse! But when someone gets killed, Jimmy and his partners are marked for death, leaving Jimmy just 48 hours to put things right for his buddies and the woman of his dreams (Gabrielle Anwar)!

Nowadays, we can do a lot of things on the Internet. For instance, you can buy grocery, plan your vacation, or get a job online. In the same way, you can look for a date online. However, it’s not as easy as it sounds. If you are looking for a dating partner online, we suggest that you keep a few things in mind. We have discussed some of them in this article. Read on to know more.Relationships:Dating Articles from EzineArticles.com

When it comes to shopping for your next luxury watch, you should begin your search by first asking yourself a few simple questions.

“What is your budget? Start there,” says Nathan Nerswick, a client services manager at Crown & Caliber, the Atlanta-based online watch shop where you can sell luxury timepieces and buy everything from a used OMEGA Speedmaster to a Rolex GMT-Master II.

“A lot of people don’t want to talk about money, but I think that’s kind of a baseline,” Nerswick tells Men’s Journal in the video above. “You need to be able to say, ‘Hey, I’m willing to spend $ 5,000.’ Cool, let’s look at $ 5,000 watches.”

Knowing your budget can help you narrow down your search, especially when you’re looking at the endless options online. Next, Nerswick explains to also focus on the other watches you own. “There’s a big difference between it being your first watch or your fifth watch,” he says, “and so that can really inform the direction we’re going.” But there’s plenty more to consider, especially for the place you’re buying the watch from.

“When you’re looking to buy a watch from anyone—certainly online—the No. 1 thing you need to ask them is if they have actual trained watchmakers,” says Jason Allen, Crown & Caliber’s chief marketing officer. The online shop has its own in-house watchmakers in Atlanta who authenticate and work on every watch that goes up on the brand’s website.

Find out even more must-know watch-buying tips from the pros at Crown & Caliber above.

Ten years after releasing their live DVD and album, Argue With A Tree, Blue October is set to release Things We Do At Night (Live From Texas). Filmed at the House of Blues in Dallas, Texas, Things We Do At Night (Live From Texas) showcases the live energy and raw emotion Blue October fans have come to love and expect. The live performance covers all of the hits and favorites from the band’s last four albums, Foiled, Approaching Normal, Any Man In America, and Sway.

“A prodigiously imaginative collection.” —New York Times Book Review, Editor’s Choice “Dazzling tales from a master of the fantastic.” —Washington Post Book World Fragile Things is a sterling collection of exceptional tales from Neil Gaiman, multiple award-winning (the Hugo, Bram Stoker, Newberry, and Eisner Awards, to name just a few), #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Graveyard Book, Anansi Boys, Coraline, and the groundbreaking Sandman graphic novel series. A uniquely imaginative creator of wonders whose unique storytelling genius has been acclaimed by a host of literary luminaries from Norman Mailer to Stephen King, Gaiman’s astonishing powers are on glorious displays in Fragile Things. Enter and be amazed!

-It is always possible to park directly outside any building you are visiting.

-A detective can only solve a case once he has been suspended from duty.

-If you decide to start dancing in the street, everyone you bump into will know all the steps.

-Most laptop computers are powerful enough to override the communication systems of any invading alien civilization

-It does not matter if you are heavily outnumbered in a fight involving martial arts – your enemies will wait patiently to attack you one by one by
dancing around in a threatening manner until you have knocked out their predecessors.

-When a person is knocked unconscious by a blow to the head, they will never suffer a concussion or brain damage.

-No one involved in a car chase, hijacking, explosion, volcanic eruption or alien invasion will ever go into shock.

-Police Departments give their officers personality tests to make sure they are deliberately assigned a partner who is their total opposite.

-When they are alone, all foreigners prefer to speak English to each other. If they’re villains, they will probably speak with an English accent.

-You can always find a chainsaw when you need one.

-Any lock can be picked by a credit card or a paper clip in seconds, unless it’s the door to a burning building with a child trapped inside.

-An electric fence, powerful enough to kill a dinosaur will cause no lasting damage to an eight-year-old child.

-Television news bulletins usually contain a story that affects you personally at that precise moment you turn the television on.

Crown & Caliber founder Hamilton Powell came up with the idea of a creating a trustworthy online wristwatch marketplace when listening to a friend complain about trying to sell a Patek Philippe Gondolo. That friend’s options were limited to eBay, Craigslist or, the option he went with, the local pawnshop.

The watch was sold to the pawnshop for $ 5,200, but when the friend walked back through the doors a few weeks later, he noticed the price tag said $ 12,500. Ouch. The fact is, before Crown & Caliber came onto the scene, the business of buying used luxury watches was one seemingly destined to stay fraught with uncertainty. On the authenticity side, even high-profile buyers have admittedly been taken advantage of in the shadowy world of fake Rolexes.

Since launching its website five years ago, the company has helped thousands find the piece of their dreams and sleep soundly in the process, all while building a cool community of collectors. Here’s everything you need to know.

Courtesy Crown & Caliber

IT EMPLOYS A TEAM OF SWISS-TRAINED WATCHMAKERS

Once a watch comes through the doors of the Atlanta headquarters, it gets fully inspected by a team of classically trained watchmakers, technicians, and refinishers. The kind of people who love watches so much they would be tinkering with timepieces even if they weren’t getting paid for it. This team of specialists makes sure that each outgoing product is operating to their Swiss-certified standards, is made of authentic parts and, of course, keeps accurate time.

ITS INSTAGRAM WILL SERIOUSLY UPGRADE YOUR FEED

Our social media feed is always in need for more mechanics and less bad food photos, which makes @crownandcaliber an easy click. Expect plenty of desirable wrist candy like the Rolex GMT-Master II “Pepsi” or the OMEGA Seamaster Aqua Terra. Not only that, but they also do a great job of spotlighting iconic watch lovers with their favorite pieces, like Buzz Aldrin with his OMEGA Speedmaster or Steve McQueen with his Tag Heuer Monaco.

Courtesy Crown & Caliber

IT PRODUCES A SLICK SERIES CALLED “WATCH STORIES”

The artful docu-series profiles people within the diverse watch community, from sportscar racers to auction house heads to chefs, and goes in-depth on the moments and pieces that define them as collectors. Their latest is with renaissance gentleman and Crown & Caliber ambassador Spike Feresten, who hosts one of the most popular automotive podcasts Spike’s Car Radio for Podcast One. Feresten wrote for fellow car enthusiast Jerry Seinfeld on the hit sitcom Seinfeld, and like his old boss he has the kind of car collection that will make any red-blooded man drool. Not to mention a watch collection to match, stocked with racing brands like Rolexes, Tag Heuers, and Tudors.

IT EVEN OFFERS COOL ACCESSORIES BEYOND TIMEPIECES

For most men, spreading your regular watches out on the bureau for selection is a perfectly passable way to display them. But if you are a Crown & Caliber kind of guy, you may be looking for a slightly more elevated presentation. Luckily it also offers watch boxes, cases, and winders from luxury designers WOLF. Family-owned since it was founded in the 1800s, the team designs the products to be passed down generations, just like your watches.

Courtesy Crown & Caliber

THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERY RANGE OF COLLECTOR

Whether you are a young professional looking for your first statement piece, or a seasoned collector, there is something for you on Crown & Caliber. The selection features over 40 brands, including signature pieces like the Cartier Tank Francaise, inspired by the French Army’s Renault FT-17 Army Tanks, and the Panerai Radiomir Black Seal. For those in search of their “grail watch”, you may want to check in on the regular; currently a like-new IWC Portuguese Minute Repeater Limited Edition can be snagged for $ 50,000. Looking to treat yourself? Pour a scotch and set aside some time to click through over 2000 timepieces. Better make it a double.

MTV’s Wild ‘N Out might be known as the Nick Cannon show but the improv comedy series has developed a few stars in their own right, namely DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller, and Chico Bean.

Though they’ve come up as individual comics they’ve recently came together to form the threesome known as The 85 South Show. An internet/traveling show, The 85 South Show has been building a core following thanks to the talents of the aforementioned comedians.

Today (Oct. 23), the three jokers checked into The Breakfast Club where they clowned around every chance they got while giving listeners some insight into how they go about their lives.

Touching on topics from sex to why Karlous Miller thinks he got fired from Wild N’ Out, the interview was all kinds of comedy.

Here are the 9 things we learned from DC Young Fly, Chico Bean and Karlous Miller on The Breakfast Club.

1. Whose Idea Was It?

DC and Chico say that forming the 85 South Show was actually Miller’s idea. Being that they hung out regardless he felt they should take their conversations on the road and make a show of it.

Fabolous ﻿and his baby mama’s father agreed to let bygones be bygones shortly after that on-camera confrontation where Fab made death threats … TMZ has learned. Sources close to the rapper and Emily B tell TMZ … as heated as the argument…

Established in 1960, Tower Records was once a retail powerhouse with 200 stores, in 30 countries, on five continents. From humble beginnings in a small-town drugstore, Tower Records eventually became the heart and soul of the music world, and a powerful force in the music industry. In 1999, Tower Records made an astounding $ 1 billion. In 2006, the company filed for bankruptcy. What went wrong? Everyone thinks they know what killed Tower Records: The Internet. But that's not the story. Directed by Colin Hanks, and featuring music icons like Dave Grohl, Elton John and Bruce Springsteen, “All Things Must Pass” is a feature documentary film examining this iconic company's explosive trajectory, tragic demise, and legacy forged by its rebellious founder Russ Solomon.

We’re grown-ups now. It’s time to put down childish things. Your PlayStation is no longer your most prized possession. Air Jordans have moved from everyday attire to casual wear.Most of all, you’ve started doing things for yourself. That means you require a list of necessities, and that’s where we come in.We’ve done the leg work. Some items you might have already and others might be on your wishlist. But here’s a rundown of everything a man like you needs.

1. A tailored suit

As a matter of both utility and principle, every man needs at least one suit in his closet. But do it right. Make sure the suit is tailored to fit your body and show off the hard work you’ve done in the gym, and in the kitchen. Go for a neutral color, like navy, grey or black.

2. Brown and black dress shoes

A nice pair of shoes can upgrade any outfit. If you’re going to choose one, go with a brown pair that you can mix in with any look. In terms of style, an oxford loafer is like the universal shoe for your wardrobe. They work with jeans, khakis, and slacks.

3. Shoe polish

You wash, dry, dry-clean, and iron your clothes. Are you giving your shoes the same attention? Because the same principle applies: A little effort goes a long way.

4. A leather belt

Here’s a general man-law: If your pants have belt loops, wear a belt. Another tip: Always match your belt with your shoes.

5. A sports jacket

A sports jacket or blazer can upgrade just about any outfit. Whether you’re wearing a T-shirt and jeans or a dress shirt and pants, a sports jacket will stamp some maturity on it.

6. Cologne

Here’s something you already know: Women like a man who smells good. If you’re just starting out picking a fragrance, find one scent you like. Then build on that. Just don’t bathe in it. Spray a little on your chest and the base of your throat.

7. A wallet

We’re all too old now to just shove things in our pockets. Just remember, this isn’t your father’s giant, bulging leather wallet that protrudes from his back pocket. Go for a thinner version or use a simple card holder.

8. A travel bag

You’ve graduated from backpacks and gym bags. Toss your things into a more respectable carrying case that’s perfect for a weekend getaway or business trip.

9. A nice watch

Yes, you could check the time on your cell phone or your tablet, or your laptop or the positioning of the sun. But a nice watch says a lot about your taste. Consider it the grandfather of all accessories.

10. A grooming kit

Unless you have a live-in barber, consider this an essential tool kit for your face.

11. A quality chef’s knife

You don’t really need an entire knife set unless you want it for decoration. If you’re going to buy one kitchen knife, make it a chef’s knife. Don’t let the price tag scare you off. It’s better to have one knife that can do five things than five different knives that you barely use.

12. A cast iron skillet

It’s non-stick, easy to clean, and you can use it on the stove and in the oven at any temperature. Plus, it’s sturdy, doesn’t scratch, and can probably last you a lifetime.

13. A passport

It’s your bus pass to see the world. Get a passport. Get some stamps in it.

14. An iron and an ironing board

Yes, it’s easier to take all your clothes to the cleaners, but that’s not always practical. You never want to leave home looking like you slept in your clothes. And you’ve passed the stage where it’s okay to iron your shirt on the kitchen counter.

15. A lint roller

Having a lint roller can be a life saver. It’s usually more effective and easier on fabric than a lint brush.

16. A pair of sunglasses

Find a pair that compliments your face. Aviators and wayfarers are safe bets if you’re looking to add a little flair.

17. A recipe book

Read this carefully: Women. Love. A. Man. Who. Cooks. Whether it’s a do-it-yourself date night dinner or you’ve got the choice of either cooking or ordering Chinese, it’s time you learned to fend for yourself.

18. A toolbox

We’re not saying that you should become Bob the Handyman, but you should have easy access to a hammer, wrench, and screwdriver at all times.

19. A universal remote

The family of remote controls sitting by the television—one for the TV, one for the cable, and another for the DVD player—they have to go. Make your life easier.

And just like you pick up new clothes for the cooler months, your skin requires different products as well. That’s why we asked Annet King, Director of Global Education at the International Dermal Institute and Dermalogica, to focus in on what’s important when the changing weather forces us to change our skincare routine.

Here are four things you need to do skin care-wise this fall.

1. Exfoliate

Exfoliation is important for men because our skin is thicker than women’s, produces more oil, and obviously, grows coarse hair. Exfoliation can help make all of these factors work in your favor. Exfoliating removes dead skin cells that make your skin look and feel dry. Using a mechanical exfoliant before shaving raises the facial hair prior to your shave. That not only gives you a smoother shave, but also leads to fewer ingrown hairs and breakouts due to shaving.

You have two options here: chemical (using acids and/or enzymes) or mechanical (using scrubs or brushes). Use mild exfoliators every day and more abrasive exfoliators 2-3 times a week. Key ingredients to look for (primarily in chemical exfoliators) include Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Alpha-Hydroxy Acid and Fruit Enzymes. Remember, a slight tingle is OK. A burn is probably too much.

Work on reversing sun damage caused by summer months. Fall is a great time to add lotions with ingredients such as peptides, vitamin C and algae extracts to help lighten brown spots, or Hyper-Pigmentation. The darker the skin, the more prone too dark spots. Just like getting that perfect physique, this takes consistent determination. Choose a product and use it all season long. Be sure to apply it for 10 solid weeks day in and day out, or else you won’t see the desired results.

Skin tends to get drier in the fall due to brisk winds and starting the heater back up again. Use this opportunity to replace lost moisture quickly with hydrating masks. These are not the peel off or dry-hard masks your sister used. These are masks with tremendous and fast acting benefits that really are the best way to give your skin a boost. Pick a mask with key antioxidants (or more simply put, vitamins) and hyaluronic acid to fix unstable molecules that mess with the skin.

When you sleep is when your skin wakes up. It goes into hyper-mode to clean out impurities and fix itself with cell turnover. This is a great time to put a treatment on that is going to take maximize that specific action. Lotions that help speed up cell turnover while keeping skin hydrated are a key component in helping to get skin ready for the harsh months ahead.

If your bathroom cabinet or your closet can use a minor (or, OK, major) revamp, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is the time and place to do it. The sale has thousands of items on a major discount, ranging from grooming kits, classic jeans,sporty sneakers and more. Seriously, these deals are as good (and better) than the ones you’ll see on Black Friday, plus you don’t have to wait until November to score major discounts.

Ready to browse the racks? Scroll down for some of our favorite picks from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.

PAIGE Lennox Slim Fit Jeans

This lightweight denim has just the right amount of stretch, so they’re easy to move around in no matter what you’re doing, but still structured enough for more formal occasions.

This rugged forest green trucker look will add a decidedly cooler update to your tried-and-true denim jacket. Made with stretchy cotton canvas, it’s easy to layer over just about any of your shirts for look that’s equally comfortable and stylish.

Ideal for topping off a sporty look, these retro-inspired sneakers offer a contrast-striped design for an effortlessly cool look. We recommend wearing with a blue shorts and a cool tank for a no-fuss finish.

Stow your grooming essentials in this spacious Dopp kit for easy access when you’re on the road or just have a tiny bathroom. With an antibacterial lining, it makes sure you can store your grooming gear in a clean, organized way.

If you haven’t been using moisturizer in your regular routine, here’s a good reason to start. This full-body moisturizer from Kiehl’s is the perfect remedy for all dry skin types. Apply fresh out of the shower or when necessary to keep your skin soft and smooth.

If you’re tired of carrying around a messenger and want a straightforward, stylish hauler, you can’t go wrong with this pack. Whether you want to carry your laptop or just your gym clothes, this pack’s got your back.

Attendees at Comic-Con’s 2018 Cosplay immediately kicked things into third gear Day 1 with their studio-quality costumes … trust us, they’re incredible. Comic-Con kicked off Thursday in San Diego and tons of fans flooded the city showing off their…

I fund my Periscopes and podcasts via audience micro-donations on Patreon. I prefer this method over accepting advertisements or working for a “boss” somewhere because it keeps my voice independent. No one owns me, and that is rare. I’m trying in my own way to make the world a better place, and your contributions help me stay inspired to do that.

Trying to get a guy’s attention can be quite intimidating and scary for many. The ability to show your confidence is likely to be the most important factor to consider, although there are many other things that can be helpful to get someone’s attention.Relationships:Dating Articles from EzineArticles.com

Getting together with your special someone is something we probably don’t do as often as we should, which is why the notion of designating a “date night” has become such a big deal lately. Unfortunately, date night activities can get a little stale, which means that if you are ready to up your game, you might consider checking out all of the fun things to do in Kemah.Relationships:Dating Articles from EzineArticles.com

Ever since walking into the spotlight, Jojo, Angela and Vanessa Simmons have seen their celebrity and popularity steadily grow without even having to drop any kind of sex tapes (props).

Now with Growing Up Hip-Hop going four seasons strong and each one of the three getting their entrepreneur on, the Simmons siblings decided to check The Breakfast Club for a quick pow wow with Charlamagne Tha God and Angela Yee.

Opening up about their relationship with each other, Angela’s status with Romeo, and how they feel about Russell Simmons getting caught up in the #MeToo movement, the Simmons clan try to answer any and everything asked of them.

Here are the 8 things we learned from the Simmons siblings on The Breakfast Club.

1. Go-To Man

Jojo Simmons is the go to guy for advice as far as Angela and Vanessa go. He does admit that he gives great advice because of the things he’s been through in life but also says he’s refuses to listen to his sisters complain about each other anymore.

A “Stranger Things” casting call looks like a smoking gun in a lawsuit accusing show creators, the Duffer brothers, of ripping off a short film — because it’s black and white proof they jacked the film’s title. We’ve obtained the casting call, from Aug.…

Internet-connected devices are revolutionizing the way we live and do business. In Part 1 of this series, WIRED Brand Lab looks at The Internet of Things and explores how connected devices will impact and expand our capabilities, as both businesses and individuals, for decades to come. Produced by WIRED Brand Lab for DXC Technology.WIRED Videos

Style is about as subjective as it gets. Because itâs, ultimately, an expression of who you are, itâs one of many things in life thatâs so intensely personal that people can get emotional if you give them the slightest suggestion that you donât like an element of what theyâre wearing.

House flipper Tarek El Moussa has a new home of his own! The HGTV star gushed over his new Costa Mesa house on Instagram, saying he was excited for his “new beginnings.” Check out what inspiring lesson Tarek learned from his whirlwind purchase.

While Drake has been crowned The King of The North for quite some time now, Tory Lanez could easily be considered the prince of the city and with his new album Memories Don’t Die fresh off the presses, he’s bound to get some more royal recognition.
Today the Toronto representative stopped by The Breakfast Club to talk with the morning trio (sans DJ Envy) and revealed some interesting tidbits. From the inspiration from his album title to why Nicki Minaj took her verse off of “Shooters,” Tory isn’t shy about being honest regardless of how he may come off.

Here are the 12 things we learned from Tory Lanez on The Breakfast Club.

1. Fake Friends

The meaning behind his latest album title Memories Don’t Die is based on the time his friends didn’t hold him down when some cats tried to rush Tory. That’s when he realized he was with fake friends and has since been particular about who he lets into his cipher.

One of the positive side-effects of the Trump administration is that citizens are far more informed on the issues than at any time in my memory. The public seems to be getting into the details on a lot of topics lately. Gun control is a great example. I consider myself under-informed on that topic, but improving daily, as are most of you who follow the news. And I thought it would be useful for some of you to compare your views on the topic to where I’ve evolved so far.

What follows is my public confession of ignorance on the topic. I will list the things I believe to be true, while asking readers to fact-check me. I’ll modify my list as corrections come in.

In no particular order, here’s what I think I know.

Gun control works. If it didn’t work, the Vegas shooter and the Florida school shooter would have used fully-automatic weapons and killed far more people. The one-time mass shooters are clearly using the most lethal weapons they can get without too much friction. Fully-automatic weapons are expensive, less available, and can create a paper trail with purchase. That’s evidently enough friction to make them not the weapon of choice. Therefore, the existing gun controls on fully-automatic weapons seem to work.

Professional criminals can always get weapons. But they are not the topic of most gun control conversations for that very reason.

States with tight gun control have lower gun violence. But those states are also blue states. The obvious correlation here is that liberals vote for gun control no matter how many or how few problems the state experiences. The state-to-state comparisons do not tell you if gun control works.

Comparing gun ownership in the United States to other countries is more misleading than illuminating because no two situations are alike. The United States isn’t Switzerland and it isn’t Japan.

Chicago has strict gun control and yet it has high gun violence. But that doesn’t tell you gun control doesn’t work. It might tell you Chicago is a blue (liberal) city with a gun violence problem. But that’s all it tells you. We can’t know if Chicago would have even greater problems without the existing gun laws.

Gun ownership is a safeguard against the government turning on citizens. While the professional military will always have overwhelming firepower compared to citizens, private guns would instantly be turned on the unprotected assets and family members of anyone involved in a coup attempt. That’s a safeguard.

The NRA opposes universal background checks for gun purchases because it creates a list of gun owners that would be useful for a government that might want to later confiscate guns. Yet the NRA itself is a list of gun owners, in effect. And any gun owner who buys a weapon, ammo, gun accessories, or uses a gun range is discoverable by their credit card or check purchases. If you subscribe to Guns & Ammo magazine, or visit gun websites, or say pro-gun things on social media, that’s discoverable too. So 98% (just a guess) of gun owners are already discoverable by the government.

There’s probably no practical way to effectively regulate or ban private person-to-person gun sales. But you could pass a law putting some liability (say a $ 10,000 fine for example) on the private seller in case the gun is used by the buyer for a crime within, let’s say, one year. Under this scenario, you also want to have legal ways to privately sell guns without the liability risk. That could include buying a one-year surety bond, or selling the gun to a licensed dealer. Just brainstorming here.

Gun owners worry about a slippery slope from background checks to gun confiscation. But with hundreds of millions of guns already in circulation, and a gun culture in our DNA, we already have Mutually Assured Destruction if the government were to attempt confiscation. The government itself would fall within a week, in my opinion. I judge the slippery-slope-to-confiscation argument to be a real risk, but a smaller risk than just about any other risk the country routinely discusses.

Politicians and citizens often refer to AR-15 rifles as assault weapons, or assault rifles. But a more accurate description, by far, would be “defensive weapon.” I would imagine that for every 10,000 AR-15 sales, perhaps one nut is buying for actual assault purposes. The rest are for sport shooting and defense. Words matter in political conversations.

According to at least one ER doctor who has seen many gunshot wounds, the high-velocity rounds of an AR-15 will explode organs and make wounds unsurvivable, whereas the typical lower-velocity handgun wounds often leave cleaner holes that can be less lethal. This generality assumes most handguns don’t have special rounds that could also explode organs. And distance from target makes a difference, I hear.

Gun owners say handguns are just as effective as AR-15s for mass shootings. This is clearly untrue for special cases such as the Vegas event where shooting distance was a variable. And I would expect human psychology to favor AR-15s for any “make me famous” killings such as the recent school tragedy. I hate to say it, but a military-looking weapon is going to be more appealing, and feel more dominant, for such killers. It would also be an advantage over police on the scene if the first responders had only handguns and shooting distance is a factor. So while it is true that handguns can produce mass casualties, and have, it is also probably true that access to AR-15s raises the risk of mass shootings and the death count too. No one can estimate how much of a real difference it would make. My best guess is “some,” but a small improvement might be enough to matter.

Gun owners say gun control doesn’t work because any law can be skirted. You can’t plug all of the holes in the system. But gun control doesn’t attempt to plug every hole. It attempts to add some useful friction in places that might improve things by 2%, for example. When it comes to life and death, small improvements count.

Some people tell me there are already universal background checks in the law (and therefore existing lists of gun buyers) but I assume that system is incomplete or we wouldn’t be discussing it. I could use some fact checking there.

If universal gun background checks are objectionable to the NRA, would a no-buy list also be objectionable? A no-buy list also carries the risk of identifying legal gun buyers simply because you have to do a search with the buyer’s name to know if he or she is on the no-buy list. But maybe we could mitigate that risk by designing a system that automatically sends a thousand random names of real people with every query so the government can’t tell who the search was for. The gun store owner would get back only the no-buy names from the thousand, in alphabetical order, so it would be easy to check if the customer in front of you is one of them. Or perhaps the gun story owner can see a list of no-buy people in the buyer’s zip code so no query with the buyer’s name is ever used. Just brainstorming here. Might be other solutions that are better.

I will correct and update this list as I learn more on the topic. How close is my understanding to yours? Let me know in the comments or on on Twitter at @ScottAdamsSays.

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If you thought Waka Flocka Flame’s fire for the game was dimming, think again.

Today Flockaveli comes through with a new visual for “Trap My Ass Off” where he finds himself counting stacks of paper before feds raid the trap house forcing him to dip on them in a drop top. Po-9 didn’t even give chase. Laziest law enforcement officials in the world here.
Chris Brown meanwhile gives up crooning for the women to take up tongue twisting raps with Joyner Lucas in his clip to “Stranger Things.” Strange indeed.

Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from Rob $ tone featuring Malik Burgers, Kemba, and more.

Over the past few years Troy Ave has become Hip-Hop fans’ favorite punching bag and while such online animosity would’ve broken most rappers by now, the BK rapper has kept chugging along. Remaining defiant in the eyes of his haters and headstrong in his belief that he’s here for a reason, Troy Ave isn’t phased by all the slander he’s been getting since his album flopped like a disk.
A week after once again stirring up social media because he insinuated he’d take the stand in Taxstone’s trial, the Trop stopped by The Breakfast Club to talk about said subject while also opening up as much as he legally can about his current case, growing as a man, and why he doesn’t feel his album, Major Without A Deal, really flopped.